Baguio judge files perjury raps vs pal

BAGUIO CITY — A Regional Trial Court judge here has filed perjury charges against a colleague who had accused him in the Court of Appeals (CA) of playing pusoy (a card game) while on official duty.

RTC Branch 7 Judge Clarence Villanueva lodged the case against RTC Branch 6 Judge Ruben Ayson who executed an affidavit last May 13 that the former played pusoy between 10 a.m. and noon of Sept. 27 last year.

Ayson’s affidavit was sent to CA Justice Josefina Salonga for investigation.

In his perjury complaint, Villanueva, however, denied Ayson’s claim, saying that he could not have played the card game because he had scheduled trials then.

Villanueva’s fellow judges Amado Caguioa, Antonio Esteves and Abraham Borreta have submitted a joint affidavit, saying Villanueva could not have joined them in a game of pusoy because he was busy hearing cases at that time.

The three judges admitted playing pusoy to while away their time while waiting for Borreta’s despedida lunch to start. — Artemio Dumlao